This spray-on sunscreen provides broad-spectrum protection that includes avobenzone for UVA protection, but the amount of this UVA-protecting ingredient is atypically low. That isn’t a deal-breaker, but the amount of alcohol in the base formula most certainly is a problem for skin. What a shame, because this antioxidant-rich sunscreen would otherwise be worth considering.

Claims

Get out and stay out all day with this special formula! Created for active people, this clear, no mess spray goes on quickly and dries in seconds. Sweat resistant so it won't run into your eyes and sting. Sprays on easily and evenly. Broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. Water resistant.

Strengths: Inexpensive; generous sizes; some very good sunscreens, occasional use of antioxidants without troublesome plant extracts; some fragrance-free products.

Weaknesses: Nearly all products contain one or more problematic plant extracts or volatile plant oils; the Obsessively Organic line is a dud; no products to treat acne or lighten skin discolorations; several bar soaps; no reliable AHA or BHA products; irritating toners; problematic self-tanner.

Lining the shelves of many health food stores and the "natural" skin-care aisles of quite a few national grocery store chains is this sweetly named line of skin-care products. Similar to competitor Burt's Bees (where Burt himself sold handmade products out of the back of his pickup truck), the owners of Kiss My Face are also vegetarians. (What does dietary preference have to do with skin care? We don't know, but it's mentioned several times in the information about this company.) Also similar to Burt's Bees, the founders of Kiss My Face started on a farm and took their products and concept to the big city, where it was well received.

Of course, the farm setting juxtaposed with the urban success speaks to the company's desire to maintain their natural image, despite using several ingredients that aren't natural in the least. If anything, many of the natural ingredients Kiss My Face chooses are a problem for skin because they cause irritation. Even more upsetting is that they do so without exerting a benefit. The company claims to use the latest scientific research mixed with the best nature has to offer, saying that doesn't leave any room for "unnecessary chemical additives," but there is a lot of research about all kinds of ingredients, natural and synthetic, that indicates they are excellent for skin. Kiss My Face must be doing some inadequate or extremely limited research.

What Kiss My Face lacks is a product range that keeps up with state-of-the-art options from neighboring lines in the mass market. We are leery of any skin-care company that claims to be using the latest research and yet sells sunscreens without reliable UVA protection, toners with irritants, and far more bar soaps, which are also a problem for skin, than water-soluble cleansers. Again, what research are they using? Although the natural slant here is more a front than factual, there are some winning products to consider, and the price point is very attractive, as is the simple packaging. Shopping Kiss My Face carefully can result in some great beauty bargains.

The Beautypedia Research Team is dedicated to helping you find the absolute best products for your skin, using research-based criteria to review beauty products from an honest, balanced perspective. Each member of the team was personally trained by Paula Begoun herself.